PORT AUTHORITY GIVES BUDGET INFORMAL OKAY

Ponce de Leon Port Authority members have given informal approval to a fiscal 1985-86 budget that may be funded by a millage lower than this year's. The current tax levy is 32 cents on each $1,000 non-exempt property valuation, said authority administrator Dan O'Brien.

During a recent workshop O'Brien proposed that the authority operate on a similar or slightly lower millage that would provide $535,000 for operating the authority and funding a study needed to develop a comprehensive plan to cover the years up to 2010.

In 1976, the Volusia County Planning Department developed the comprehensive plan now in effect, O'Brien said. It included constructing the port-marina and buying or leasing land on both sides of the Ponce de Leon Inlet for parks.

Since that time the authority has added three projects: involvement in purchase of land for a North Peninsula Park; establishment of a joint participation program that funds marine-oriented projects sponsored by the county and area municipalities; and creation of a Recreational and Endangered Lands Program to assist local governmental agencies in buying lands for public parks.

Within a year or so, all the projects will be completed, O'Brien said. The authority has collected $8.3 million in taxes over the past 15 years, invested that money and funded a multitude of projects set up in the comprehensive plan, he said. The authority also finished paying the $3.8 million bond issue set up in 1968 to construct jetties and dredge the inlet.

The authority's bank balance as of May 1 was $8.9 million which shows the agency has operated for 15 years on the interest earned and has a surplus of more than $600,000, O'Brien said.

During that time the authority has established Lighthouse Point Park and Smyrna Dunes Park; given $810,000 to the county and municipalities for marine- oriented projects; sponsored inlet maintenance programs; worked to create a North Peninsula Park; and donated $500,000 for a multiagency purchase of 610- acre Spruce Creek tract.

Authority members have made commitments to spend $4.8 million for the port- marina; $500,000 for land purchase for the Lighthouse Point Park; $1.1 million for Lighthouse Point Park development; and $428,000 for joint participation projects.

The authority can meet its financial commitments of $6.8 million and retain $535,000 for operations and funding of studies for a new plan without an increase in taxes, O'Brien said.

Studies would help determine how to fully utilize the inlet by reviewing the need for new spoil areas, the need for jetty system adjustments and the possibility of deepening the channel, he said. They also would help the authority prepare for anticipated increases in boating-fishing industries through joint efforts of government and private enterprises. Studies also would be used to prepare a plan for developing parks on the district's waterways and oceanfront, O'Brien said.